Vain Worship Matthew 15:1-9

Charles Willis, Speaker In Vain Ye Do Worship Me Charles Willis, Speaker

Acappella with Pope till 1500’s A.D. Historical Conflicts The Catholic Controversy Acappella till 1300 A.D. Acappella with Pope till 1500’s A.D. Division into Roman Catholic – Eastern Orthodox Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia Concise Cyclopedia of Religious Knowledge Christian Antiquities Instruments were an issue in the division In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 3

Instruments were always controversial Historical Conflicts Denominational Controversies Church of England Puritans Baptists Presbyterians Instruments were always controversial In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 4

Benjamin Franklin, Gospel Preacher, 1860 Historical Conflicts Church Controversy 1850-1900 Benjamin Franklin, Gospel Preacher, 1860 Men paid attention to something other than the Word of God We must be careful about influences (Mark 13:5) Isaac Errett – angels use harps… George Slade – Psallo means instruments Dr. J. H. Ropes disagreed Instruments created division In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 5

A test of faith (1 Pet. 1:6-7; James 1:3) Modern Issues A test of faith (1 Pet. 1:6-7; James 1:3) John Price, Old Light On New Worship Silence of Scripture must be honored Rick Atchley – “God doesn’t forbid it” An appeal to the young Sets aside God’s authority in favor of man’s thinking In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 6

A test of faith (1 Pet. 1:6-7; James 1:3) Modern Issues A test of faith (1 Pet. 1:6-7; James 1:3) John Price, Old Light On New Worship Silence of Scripture must be honored Reach a larger group of people… Addition of instruments is an entertainment In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 7

Not “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) Vain Worship Not “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) Nadab & Abihu – Leviticus 10:1-3 Moses – Deuteronomy 32:51 Going too far – 2 John 9 Lack of obedience makes it vain In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 8

Specific automatically excludes Vain Worship Not “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) “Teach and admonish” (Col. 3:16) Sing is specific Specific automatically excludes “Sing” (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19) Must adhere to Col. 3:17 In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 9

“Innovation” brought by those who want to see changes Concluding Thoughts “Innovation” brought by those who want to see changes Lynn Anderson – Wineskins “new realities make the old rules obsolete” Romans 12:2 “Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned” (2 Peter 2:2) In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 10

“Innovation” brought by those who want to see changes Concluding Thoughts “Innovation” brought by those who want to see changes Lynn Anderson – Wineskins “new realities make the old rules obsolete” Calvin Warpula – One Body “most of us have seen the folly…” Rubel Shelly “cannot find their explicit condemnation” In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 11

The Lord’s Church doesn’t need updating! Concluding Thoughts The Lord’s Church doesn’t need updating! We must be God’s distinctive people! Can you see the need for Bible authority? In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 12

Charles Willis, Speaker In Vain Ye Do Worship Me Charles Willis, Speaker